The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-07


ours6ischarged boys who have returned to
the city OF Indianapolis. His loss to the r =
form school is great and We part with
him with regret.
After dinner the boys again meet in the
chapel, and recite to the Superintendent
the Sabbath school lesson which thew
had learned duriug the week 10 their
families. at both the services the boys
sing number OF gospel songs with spirit,
accuracy and beauty. A constant effort is
made to make Sunday bright, cheerful
day, so that its coming is nailed with de-
light by the boys. The blinds are not
drawn down and long faces commanded
but the spirit of religious cheerfullness is
invoked. Every other Sunday the boys
write home to their parents and friends,
and the letters are sent at the expense OF
the institution. Nearly all the boys gladly
embrace this opportunity, and those who
do not willingly write are required to do
so. The odd hours are filled
up with reading papers and
books, and, in good weather, the House
Fathers take their families out walking-uo
the woods or the village.
GOVERNMENT.
Visitors are at q loss to understand how
the officers keep track of the boys SIS dur
ing working hours they are scattered all
over the farm and grounds. The boys
and every boy is responsible for the boy in
front of him, and reports when he is out
OF the line. The House Father knows where
all the boys are who have been detailed
for work, and should the mans of boy be
reported who has not been detailed, he Is
Immediately looked up. The BOYS thus
become keepers OF each other. Very bad
boys always work under the eye OF an
officer, but large number of the bows are
fNfTc Tod aoofn al h. II
the detailing officer is misplaced, and
the trusted boy escapes, but never
in the history of the institution
has this Occurred so seldom as during
the past year, and this is very conclusive
evidence TO the Board that the year has
been the most successful in the history of
the institution.
RECORD or CONDUCT.
When q boy enters the school he is given
number to indicate the grade of crims
for which he is committed. Murder be-
ing the highest, the boy takes No. "a. If
his conduct is good for month he is given
% and If bad 90, conduct alone .determin-
ing the length of TINA the boy remains in
the institution. All are committed until
they are 81 years of age, unless sooner dis
charged by the Board for good conduct. A
daily record is kept OF all reports by the
House Father. These the boys receive
may be during the day, and they must give
them in at night to the House Father. At
the close of the month the Superintendent
meets the House Father in council and the
record of the boys for the month is made
up. At these meetings the character Of
every boy is discussed. Alter boy obtains
his honor the Board discharges him.
The average time of the boys at the in
stitute is about two years. After they go
out they are still subject to be called
| back IL their conduct Is not good, and q
constant oversight of all discharged boys
is kept up until they are of age. The
superintendent sees all reported boys at
his office on Saturday afternoons, and thus
| becomes acquainted with the character of
every boy. This practice, introduced by
| the present superintendent, is one of the
distinguished features of our institution.
| A superintendent who does not know the
faults and weaknesses of every boy under
| his charge is unfit for the positi on at the
head of reform school.
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
Although every effort is made to stimu-
late good conduct, there are some cases
where kind treatment and advice will not
] work reformation or good cond uct. A
/ last resort must then be had to corp oral
| punishment. This is inflicted by the
| House Father after a written permission
|
| in writing OF the offense and the suggestion
made as to the number of strokes which
| should be inflicted with a leather strap.
Shaping, or Furnishing boy in any other
than the prescribed mode, or with the
| strap and without the consent of the Su-
] perintendent, will bring instant discharge
to the guilty officer. These punishments
are all reported to the board at the regular
monthly meetings, and also a list of all
reported boys, and the board kept advised
| of all that has been done during the
month. Minor offenses are punished by
taking away some Of the privileges Of the
boy. but the bread and water liue was
abolished nine years ago, and no such pun
ishment allowed.
THE SCHOOLS.
! Education is an important factor in Re-
form School work, but this is confined
to the ele mentary branches. In the fall
and winter months every boy
! goes TO school half a day, those
In the school in the morning
| changing places in the afternoon with the
boys who worked in the morning. In q
reform school there are many boys who
have been truants and thus many of the
largest Doys are found in the primary
grades. Special attention is given to in
stTuction in penmanship, and many boys
who could not write when they left home,
| dlleI q lew LuOubnS dSbOulSu LEelI
with letter. During the winter the boys
study United States history and recite
Saturday evening in the chapel to the
| Superintendent. But ii is not alone in
the school room that the educational work
is done. The instruction OF the House
Fathers in the families, aud of the Officer
| under whom the boys work during the
day, is as improving as that given in the
school room. The education OF the boy In
the fullest acceptation OF the word is guiag
on all the time, and improves the boys
character and enlarges his knowledge.
TABLE MANNERS.
The boys march from the family build
ings to the dining hall to the music of the
martial band. There are ten families, and
each has separate table. Before eating {
verse of some favorite gospel song is sung
and all the boys join in asking a blessing
During the week they are taken through
drill in the proper use of the knife anC
fork, and are given a short talk on tabl
manners.
| ENPLoY0IENTs-MORE LAND REQUIRED.
| A Reform School cannot be made self
sustaining and do the work assigned ii
The Board has always rejected proposition
to hire the boys to contractors. 1t doe
not think it best to introduce steam powe
to run machinery. A reform school DO.
should not learn q trade that must be fol
lowed in shop where large number o
hands are employed. He should be laugh
such employment as will in measur
insolate him when at work on the outside
An effort is made to inculcate love 70